Cohasset advisory committee approves $152,840 reserve transfer to buy sewer membranes

The Cohasset Advisory Committee on March 4 approved an immediate $152,840 transfer from the Reserve Fund to the Sewer Budget to pay a 30% deposit for new wastewater treatment membranes, and voted to recommend Article 19 to Town Meeting for further sewer funding.

The motion to approve the reserve transfer was made by Diane Kennedy and seconded by Mark Cameron; a roll call vote was unanimous, 8-0 (Michael Flaherty, Mike Barclay, Tom Callahan, Mark Maggi, Mark Cameron, Courtney Murphy, Diane Kennedy, Jeanne Astino). Diane Kennedy then moved to recommend Article 19 to Town Meeting; that motion also passed 8-0.

The committee discussed two Sewer Commission warrant items (identified in the meeting as Articles 8 and 19). One would move $465,000 from the Sewer Capital Stabilization Fund and $60,000 from Sewer Retained Earnings (totaling $525,000) to cover the full cost of new membranes. A separate article would authorize a bond of up to $1 million to fund complete designs for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Officials said the $152,840 transfer is a deposit (30%) needed so the membranes can be delivered in August; once Town Meeting approves the Sewer requests, the plan is to replenish the Reserve Fund from the Sewer Capital Stabilization Fund.

The advisory committee recorded the motions and roll-call tallies during the meeting; both motions passed unanimously. The committee did not introduce new appropriations for these items—members described the actions in the meeting as transfers of existing funds and an authorization request for a future bond.

Next steps: the Sewer Commission’s articles will appear on the warrant for Town Meeting consideration; the committee recommended Article 19 for voters’ consideration at that session.